LMA Manager of the Year contenders

With the members of the League Managers' Association set to vote for their Manager of the Year, GiveMeFootball asked fans to vote for who THEY think deserves the award.

Managers from across all four divisions are up for the gong but this season's leading contenders all come from the Premier League.

Brendan Rodgers is the hot favourite with the bookies, but there are a number of candidates who have a case for picking up the award.

GMF takes a closer look at the managers in the frame:

Sir Alex Ferguson - Manchester United
Percentage of fans' vote: 53%

The three-time manager of the year picked up over half the fans' vote with Manchester United challenging for a staggering 13th Premier League crown.

This has not been the finest season of Ferguson's tenure, but United have responded to the emergence of Manchester City and look set to beat their local rivals to the title.

A campaign of transition has seen exciting prospects like Ashley Young, Phil Jones, David De Gea and Danny Welbeck introduced to life at Old Trafford, while the decision to bring Paul Scholes out of retirement was a masterstroke.

He looks to have the better of Roberto Mancini in the mind games department - further proof, if needed, that the 70-year-old is still the best in the business.

Brendan Rodgers - Swansea City
Percentage of fans' vote: 11%

Swansea have been a breath of fresh air to the Premier League with Rodgers' attractive style of football earning plaudits from all corners of the game.

No side have ever come up to the top flight expressing themselves with such confidence, and the 39 points they have already achieved is testament to the Welsh club's success.

Swansea outpassed and outplayed Tottenham at White Hart Lane last weekend as the latest example of their fast-paced, exciting and effective way of playing.

Rodgers made some astute signings in the transfer market - with Michel Vorm and Gylfi Sigurdsson the finest examples - and is already being linked with a move to a 'big' club.

Roberto Mancini - Manchester City
Percentage of fans' vote: 11%

The Italian built Manchester City into a side that sat at the top of the Premier League for much of the season.

Mancini led City into the Champions League for the first time, to an incredible 6-1 win at Old Trafford, and to a Carling Cup semi-final. All this without Carlos Tevez.

His handling of the mercurial Mario Balotelli and the way he has juggled his squad of superstars should not be overlooked, or underestimated.

With the gap to bitter rivals United closer than ever, Mancini looks the right man to lead the blue half of Manchester to success - domestically and in Europe.

Alan Pardew - Newcastle United
Percentage of fans' vote: 8%

Newcastle were tipped for relegation by many at the start of the season but, with less than a quarter of the campaign remaining, they are level on points with Chelsea, and just five points outside the Champions League places.

Pardew has won over the fans on Tyneside since taking over from the popular Chris Hughton, and has superseded everyone's expectations.

The signing of Demba Ba on a free transfer is looking more and more like the business of the season. The January purchase of Papiss Demba Cisse wasn't bad either.

Harry Redknapp - Tottenham Hotspur
Percentage of fans' vote: 5%

If the award was given out in February, Redknapp would have won at a canter.

Tottenham were challenging for the title, playing an exhilarating brand of football, and had become the most exciting team to watch in the Premier League - by some distance.

They have since fallen away, but Redknapp remains a shoo-in to land the England job.

David Moyes - Everton
Percentage of fans' vote: 4%

Somehow, on a shoestring budget compared to their city rivals, Moyes has Everton above Liverpool in the Premier League table.

The first half of the season, as ever, was disappointing at Goodison Park, but the Toffees have been one of the most consistent sides in the league since the turn of the year.

In his tenth year in charge, the Scot continues to defy the odds.

Others
Percentage of fans' vote: 10%

Norwich manager Paul Lambert deserves a special mention after a wonderful season with newly-promoted Norwich City.

The Canaries have been a wonderful addition to the Premier League, and the latest Glaswegian in the top flight looks destined for great things.

Martin O'Neill has performed wonders since taking over from Steve Bruce at Sunderland in December.

Who knows where the Black Cuts would be if the Irishman had been in charge from the start of the season.

Report author of article

DISCLAIMER

This article has been written by a member of the GiveMeSport Writing Academy and does not represent the views of
GiveMeSport.com or SportsNewMedia. The views and opinions expressed are solely that of the author credited at the top of this article.
GiveMeSport.com and SportsNewMedia do not take any responsibility for the content of its contributors.

Want more content like this?

Like our GiveMeSport Facebook Page and you will get this directly to you.